Oil Change Tips & Tricks

[LSW]

This 3.5 gallon bucket Home Depot bucket and some 90 degree bent nose 16” pliers like THESE make it so clean. The 3.5 gal bucket is just the right size to go all the way up to the bottom of the oil pan with just a few inches of clearance. Doesn’t matter how fast the oil comes out of the drain plug it almost never splashes out or spills. Then the leaktite bucket makes it easy to take used oil to the disposal place after every 3rd change or so.

It only needs 6 quarts. 6 always puts me right near the top 1/3rd of the hash marks on the dipstick when cold. That’s even if I jack up the driver side and let it drain overnight just to be sure.

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[timhood]

WAIT 7?????

6 for the car, and 1 for the driver.

 

[Ducati1098]

WAIT 7?????

Nah, just follow the owners manual. Unless you like wasting money on oil for some odd reason.

 

[Dylan pasty]

I got fat figures and putting on the gaskets on the oil filter gives me a pain a little, so I use a piece of fishing line to pull it and get it on easily and first try.

Was just wondering what tips and tricks we have for changing oil.

For me there RONIN (no affiliation just customer) is a game changer you have to be stupid to spill a single drop and you can drop the the oil without risk of a burn.

I also jack up the drivers side after the initial drain get as much of the old stuff out as possible

What's makes the task most efficient for you.

 

[GoHawks63]

Points already made.

I always put the oil cap over the hood latch as a reminder that I haven’t filled the oil.

I also will prime the engine by filling the new filter with fresh oil.

 

[CV428]

True. However, since it is so easy to do and there is actual measured evidence it makes a small difference in some circumstances on some engines, why not?

For most folks just getting them to use a decent oil/filter for their circumstances and changing at regular intervals counts a whole lot more towards long term engine life...

We're on the same page. It's free insurance for a few extra seconds of work.

Just did my first oil change at 3000 miles yesterday. 2.7 SAS. One of the easiest oil changes I've ever done with the exception of the small O'ring.

There's a trick for that. I like to use two o-ring picks and gently pry the o-ring over the top of the filter housing. Or, you can use a piece of dental floss or smooth nylon string (it wont slice the o-ring). You loop the string/floss through center of the o-ring and over the o-ring groove, then seat the o-ring by pulling both sides of the string/floss.

 

[UncleBrad]

Just changed mine on Saturday.

• First put a sticky note or similar on your dash that says "NO OIL". Don't remove it until you're done.
• Always unscrew the filler cap first so you know the oil you're about to drain can be refilled. (learned that good tip on this very forum).
• Not sure what the RONIN is but maybe it's like this thing: https://www.femco.com/product/ford-oil-plug-set/. Makes oil changes a no fuss no muss ordeal.
• Have lots of shop towels on hand.
• Music and beer.

Like the RONIN, this product does not work with the 2.3L four.

 

[nwGTS]

Call dealer and tell him to pick it up. Dealer picks up vehicle, services it, and drops it back off. I get an oil change with Motorcraft semi-synthetic, new filter, top-off of any fluids (basically, I get a gallon of windshield washer fluid), multi-point inspection, and a tire rotation. All for $30.

The catch? I have to buy a 3-pack of these services and use them all within a year. That's one at the time of purchase, one in six months, and one in a year. It's clearly a loss-leader for the dealer to get additional service while the vehicle is there, but they don't pressure you to do anything. It generates enough business that they don't need to strong-arm anyone.

The only bummer is they've stopped doing this after having done it for ages. Next time, it will be $45 each. Still a good deal overall.

That’s an incredible deal and I agree it’s a good loss leader to keep relations up and as foot traffic for other service options. And once again this thread is topical for me.
I just received this text from my local dealer offering an oil change for ‘only $79.95’. What a deal! Lol. I just changed my oil myself on Saturday for $51 and 45 min of my time.
These guys just have a lot of customers who don’t put value on learning to do these things themselves.

 

[Fordified1]

Well, I’m over an hour from the dealership and the oil change guys have an entry-level position. There are too many real stories of oil filters being over-tightened, drain plugs being stripped out or left loose, etc. etc.. and what if that kid fires it up before putting oil in it by accident in the middle of a shift change or lunch break? do you think he’s gonna say “oh by the way I started your truck for a minute with no oil in it”, No he’s not gonna tell anybody.
Same goes for tire rotations. I do that crap myself because I don’t want the lug nuts over tightened. If I have a flat on the road I need to be able to change it with that little chicken shit handle they give you.

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

That’s an incredible deal and I agree it’s a good loss leader to keep relations up and as foot traffic for other service options. And once again this thread is topical for me.
I just received this text from my local dealer offering an oil change for ‘only $79.95’. What a deal! Lol. I just changed my oil myself on Saturday for $51 and 45 min of my time.
These guys just have a lot of customers who don’t put value on learning to do these things themselves.

Hmmm, that's my local dealer (for service, anyway, bought from Granger) and I've had all 3 of my oil changes there. The 1st when it was still Fox Ford and 2 since it switched to Murgado and they were all in the mid-$50's range, including tax. Mind you that's with the default/standard Ford Motorcraft semi-synth. For $80 I'd hope that's an upcharge for fully syn? At that price point my time spent going there and back vs my time/effort collecting and disposing (that's a drive there and back to Autozone or whatever) of the waste oil/filter . . . and consider I'm in a high-rise with underground parking, so that obviously colors my view. I mean it's totally *doable* but, for me, the value prop right now swings to having it done at the dealer. Plus, since they redid the plaza across the street there's both a reborn Vienna Beef factory store (about the only place to get natural skinned dogs anymore) and a new Binny's!

 

[nwGTS]

Hmmm, that's my local dealer (for service, anyway, bought from Granger) and I've had all 3 of my oil changes there. The 1st when it was still Fox Ford and 2 since it switched to Murgado and they were all in the mid-$50's range, including tax. Mind you that's with the default/standard Ford Motorcraft semi-synth. For $80 I'd hope that's an upcharge for fully syn? At that price point my time spent going there and back vs my time/effort collecting and disposing (that's a drive there and back to Autozone or whatever) of the waste oil/filter . . . and consider I'm in a high-rise with underground parking, so that obviously colors my view. I mean it's totally *doable* but, for me, the value prop right now swings to having it done at the dealer. Plus, since they redid the plaza across the street there's both a reborn Vienna Beef factory store (about the only place to get natural skinned dogs anymore) and a new Binny's!

Good to know they're hosing me here with this 'deal'. They are also my service dealer after buying from Granger. Mostly, I end up with more headaches and time lost doing basic service like this with dealers who over-torque lugs, forget to reinstall fasteners, strip threads and on and on. It ends up being more economical both in the short and long term to DIY fluid and filter swaps even with a full time job, family and home to manage. Condo living like you changes the equation for sure. Maybe give them a call and see if you can snag a bundle of $50ish oil changes in case this turns out to be a fixed price increase.
And yes, the new Binny's and Vienna Beef factory store next to Home Depot, Target and the Midtown Athletic Club mean I spend an inordinate amount of time in that area. Lol

 

[Swallace]

Nah, just follow the owners manual. Unless you like wasting money on oil for some odd reason.

I noticed in his video he put 7 Ouarts of oil in.
I thought it was determined that the 2.7 takes 6 qoarts?

 

[adam1991]

I noticed in his video he put 7 Ouarts of oil in.
I thought it was determined that the 2.7 takes 6 qoarts?

that's correct, but some people here will fight you to the death to defend their ignorance.

 

[Ducati1098]

I thought it was determined that the 2.7 takes 6 qoarts?

It was. Some people still like to put 7 in for some reason though.
Makes just as much sense as "priming" after an oil change by using clear flood mode.
To each their own

 

[crenca]

It was. Some people still like to put 7 in for some reason though.
Makes just as much sense as "priming" after an oil change by using clear flood mode.
To each their own

But but but .... "priming" the oil filter after a change using flood mode has no downside, even if the benefits are questionable/debatable. Overfilling has real downsides such as foaming, extra windage/friction losses, etc.

Am I wrong?

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